Battery.



YPATBNTBD MAY 1o; 1904. ANDERSON.

BATTERY Lrrmorrlon FILED :un: 1. 1903.

1m loom..

UNITED STATES resented my 1o, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAYNoBLE AND EDWARD L. ANDERSON, F sT. LOUIS, MISSOURI. Y

BATTERY.

srncmcafr'xon forming pm of new. Pannen. 759,740, dated my 1o,.19o4.

Annee. n.4 n 1, im.` sum r.. 15mn. or. uw.)

i .To whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, JAY NOBLE and ED- WARD L. ANDERSON, citizens of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis, Stateof .Missouri, have invented certain new Aand use- .a battery in which electrical euery is producai by the-oxidation of carbon or coke.

The invention further consists of other feai tures of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is a vertical section of our improved battery. Fig. Il is a horizontal section taken on line II II, Fig. I.

In our battery we make use of two electrodes, one of which is of carbon and the other preferably of aluminium, though it may be of any other desirable material that is not subject to decomposition by the electrolyte used in the battery. Of such electrodes that of carbon serves as the cathode and the aluminium or non-decomposable electrode serves as the anode. The electrolyte used in the battery is a solution of nitric acid diluted by the addition of water thereto to derive proper strength for desirable service in the battery. We prefer that the electrolyte be composed of one-half equal parts of concentrated nitric acid and pure water. In combination with the cell containing the electrodes and the electrolyte referred to we utilize a condenser in which is placed a mass of carbonfor coke and into which the evolved from the cell are condensed and returned to the cell again for renewed use.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a cell into which the electrolytic solution here inbefore mentioned is introduced.

2 is the carbon cathode, having a terminal 3, and 4 is the al iminium or other non-decomposable anode, havingaterminal 5. The electrodes 2 and 4 are preferably supported in the cell upon blocks 6.

7 is a filler centrally situated in the cell 1 to displace the electrolyte therein and afford a large area of solution-space around it in which the electrodes are positioned, so that seid elec- -trodes will receive the contact of the scution in large surface without the expenditure and use of sufiicient solution te fill the cell. The filler 7 is shown in the form`of a jar containing material such as sand to hold it centrally depressed in the cell; but it may be of any other desirable foi-m.

8 designates a condenser surmounting the cell 1 and provided with apertures 9 in its bottom through which communication from-the interior of said cell to the interior of said condenser is provided. In the condenser 8 is a mass A of carbon,coke,or analogous material, which is kept constantly moistened for the purpose of providing absorbing property therein.

In the use of our battery heat is applied thereto by any suitable means, such as a steamcoil 10, (see Fig. L) to maintain a temperature in the cell 1 of about .15()O Fahrenheitor greater to oxidize the carbon cathode by what is known as cathodic reduction,

In describing the operation of our battery we do not wish to make any positive assertion on theories as to the chemical or electrochemical reaction that takes place therein by virtue of which the operation of the battery is effected: but we believe this operation to be as follows: When the circuit in the battery is closed, the electrical currents resulting in the cell 1 pass from the non-decomposable anode to the carbon cathode and decompose water in the solution, evolving oxygen therefrom at the surface of the non-decomposable anode, while the hydrogen is evolved at the carbon cathode. The hydrogen so evolved is immediately oxidized or reduced to Water in the electrolyte by the action of the nitric acid in such solution, and at the same time nitrogen-peroxid gas is produced. v

The nitrogen-peroxid gas just mentioned being produced at the temperature hereinbefore referred to (preferablyl about 15()O Fahrenheit or greater)oxidizes the carbon cathode, thereby forming carbonio-acid gas and nitrogen-oxid gas.

When the nitrogcn-oxid gas is evolved in the cell of the battery, it unites with the oxygen evolved from the aluminium orother nondecomposable anode electrode, thereby forming nitrogen-peroxid gas. which passes from the cell into the condenser 8 and enters into the mass of moist carbon or coke therein to be reduced by condensation into nitric acid, thereby returning it to the original condition, and thereupon such acid returns to the cell lagain for reuse in the same manner as before..

.the 'electrolytic .solution to the same purpose and with similar result Ato that -in a battery in -wliicheuch gas is directly generated. Were -the nitrogen-peroxid :gas .produced outside of thecell of the battery ,and introduced .thereinto any suitable electrdlyte other than -.one

containing nitric acid may be used in the batfaery.

SPractica-.l demonstrations with our battery have shown rtxat in its use -an electromotive force'of 1.5 volts is obtained -with a .very'low internal resistance, thereby-exhibiting a high degreeof eiciency, which is produced 4in conetant current at a small cost.

We-claim as our invention-f 1. In a battery, the combination-of a carbon cathode, Aan aluminium anode, and a nitric-acid electrolyte, substantially as set forth.

' 2. -In a battery, the combination of acarbon cathode, a non-decomposable anodeka nitricacid-electrolyte solution, and means for heatinglthe battery, substantially as set forth.

-3. `In a battery, the combination of a carbon 1 cathode, -an aluminium anode, a nitric-acidelectro'lyte solution, and means for heating the battery, substantially as set forth.

l 4. In a battery, the combination .of a carbon cathode, a non-decomposable anode, and an electrolyte containing nitrogen-peroxid gas,

substantially as'set forth.

as set fort cell ofthe battery and passed thereinto through 5. In a battery, the combination of a carbon cathode, a non-decomposable anode, an electrolyte containing nitrogen peroxid gas, and means for heating the battery, substantiallyas set forth.

6. In a battery, the combination of a carbon cathode, a non-decomposable anode, a nitricacid electrolyte, and means for condensing the nitrogen gases evolved in thebuttery, substantially as set forth.

7. In a battery, the combination of a carbon cathode, an aluminium anode, nitric-acid electrolyte, and means for condensing 'the nitrogen gases evolved inthe battery, substantially 8. In a battery, the combination of a carbon cathode, a'non-decomposable anode, a nitricacid electrolyte, means for condensing the nitrogen gases evolved in the battery, and means -for heating the' battery, substantially as set forth.

t. In a battery, the combination of a carbon cathode, an aluminium anode, a nitric-acid electrolyte, means for condensing the nitrogen gases evolved in said battery, and means -or lheating' the battery, .substantially as set ont o 10. In a battery, thecombination -of a carbon cathode, a non-decomposable anode, an electrolyte containing nitrogen-peroxid gas, means for condensing the nitrogen-oxid gases evolved in the battery. and means for heating Athe battery, .substantially as set forth.

11. In a battery, the combination of a cell, a carbon cathode, a non-decomposable anode, a nitric-acid electrolyte, 'and a condenser having communication with said cell and containing coke or analogous material to receive the gaselx: evolved in said cell, substantially as set ort Y E.S.Kmem,

l. M.P. SMITH. 

